Folding chair kneeler attachment



April 10, 1951 J. H. CLARIN 2,548,098

FOLDING CHAIR KNEELER ATTACHMENT Filed Aug. '12, 1949 V 2 Sheets-Sheet I J M-4-W ATTORNEYS.

April 10, 1951 J. H. CLAR!N FOLDING CHAIR KNEELER ATTACHMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 12, 1949 IN VEN TOR.-'

ATTORNEYS.

kneeler Patented Apr. 10, 1951 FOLDING CHAIR KNEELER ATTACHMENT John H. Clarin, Oak Park, Ill.,assignor to Clarin Mfg. '00., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application August 12, 1949, Serial No. 109,915

Claims.

1 This invention relates to folding chairs with attachment embodying improvements over the construction shown in Patent No. 1,846,392.

The main objects of this invention are to provide an improved form of kneeler attachment for folding chairs; to provide an improved form and arrangement of means for mounting a kneeling platform whereby the act of folding the chair into its storage position automatically swings the platform into coplanar relationship with the folded chair; and to provide an improved kneeler attachment of this kind which is more simple in construction, less expensive to manufacture, and renders the chair more comfortable in use than the construction shown in the aforesaid patent.

In the accompanying drawingsi Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a chair having an improved kneeler attachment constructed in accordance with this nvention, the attachment Fig. 2 is a similar view of the chair but showing the kneeler attachment in its extended position for use; V

Fig 3 is a pers 'tiv'e" view illustrating the relationship of the chair and kneeler attachment in. the course of folding the" chair and effecting a retraction of the kneeler attachment into its coplanar relationship therewith;

4 is an enlarged, fragmentary rear view of the folded chair and kneeler attachment showing' the linkagewhereby the kneeler attachment is connected to the chair leg;

\ Fig. 51s a side elevation of the chair and kneeler attachment in their folded coplanar relationship;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged side elevation of the view shown in Fig; 2; and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary cross-sectionaldet'ail taken on the line 'I-? of Fig. 6.

A folding chair. IIl,:wherewith a kneeler attachment I l embodying this invention is especially adapted for use, com-prises a pair of leg; frames I2 and I pivotally connected at It to form an X- in extended or unfolded position and. providing' a support for a seat I5.

The leg frames I2 and t3 are formed from strips, of sheet metal, the lateral edges of which have been turned inwardly to provide reinforcing beads I6 with a fiat space between them.

Such a. strip'ofimaterial is-bent into the form ofa U to provide the: frame I2 with. the parallel portions spanned by cross braces I! and I8 adjacent to and on opposite sides of the pivot I4, The frame I2 provides the front legs and back support for the chair Ill. At its upper end or base of the U is arranged a curved plate of sheet metal to constitute a back rest I9.

The frame I3 comprises a pair of these formed strips and constituting the rear legs 20 connected by a cross brace 2I. Extensions 22 on these formed'strips 20 have the seat I5 hinged thereto at 23. At their lower ends the legs 2i) have bars 24 set in between the reinforcing beads It to strengthen the legs for the support of the linkage and levers which operatively connect the kneeler attachment I I to the chair I0.

At their lower extremities the frames I2 and I3 have set therein rubber pads 25 of the type shown in Patent No. 2,137,803.

The seat I5 in addition to being pivoted at 23 to the extensions 22 of the frame I3, is suspended from the frame I2 by links 26. At their lower ends these links 26 are formed with shoulders 12'? which contact the cross brace I'I, when the chair is in its unfolded seating position, and limit the unfolding movement of the frames I2 and I3.

The kneeler attachment II comprises a platform 28 and a hinged foot support 29 connected by pairs of arms or links 30 and 3l to the lower ends of the rear chair legs 20. Leverstz pivoted on the rear legs 20 are positioned to be engaged by the front chair legs when the chair is being folded into its storage position, and swing the attachment II from its horizontal rearwardlydisposed position into a retracted or collapsed coplanar position with respec'tto the folded chair frames I2 and I3.

The platform 28 may be a slab of wood or other suitable material secured to a frame 33. As best shown in Fig. 4; the frame 33 is 'a piece of strip metal bent to form a U with the ends of the parallel portions connected by a cross bar cured to the bottoms of the U-shaped exten-.

sions 84.

The .pairs of arms or links 30 and 3| are pivoted at 31 and 38 respectively to the lower ends of the rear legs 20. The arm or link 30' has its rear end pivotally connected to the platform 28 on an 7 axis concentric with the hinge of the foot support 29 to the frame 33. The arm or link 3| is pivoted at 39 to the foot support slightly eccentric of the hinge connection thereof to the platform frame 33. A short link 40 is pivoted at 4| to the arm or link 3| and at 42 to the forward ends of the platform frame 33. This arrangement of the arms 30 and 3| disposes the platform 28 either in a horizontal plane or a vertical plane, with the foot support extended transversely to or folded against the bottom of the platform 28, depending upon whether the chair frames l2 and I3 are in their extended or folded positions.

The levers 32 are pivoted at 43 to the rear chair legs 20 above the pivots 31 and 38 for the arms or links 30 and 3|. The rear end of each lever 32 is connected by a link 44 to an arm or link 30 rearwardly of its pivotal connection to the chair leg 20. The length of the link 44 is such as to dispose the lever 32 substantially parallel with the arms or links 30 and 3| (see Fig. 6) when the kneeler attachment II is in its extended position rearwardly of the chair I0, and ensure the contact of the front legs therewith exerting a downwardly-rearward pressure on the levers 32 to cause an upward swinging of the platform 28 when the chair I is folded.

At their forward ends each of the levers 32 is provided with an extension 45 bent to form opposed hooks 46 and 41 (see Fi '7). The extension 45 is disposed at right angles to the lever 32, as most clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 6. The length of the shank between the two hooks is such that the base of the hook 46 is disposed below the under edge of the lever 32. Thus, in the folding of the chair l0 into its storage position the front legs of the frame |2 engage the hooks 46 and apply a pressure downwardly and rearwardly on the hook 46 which causes the levers 32 to automatically swing the platform 28 upwardly (see Fig. 3) into a coplanar position with the leg frames l2 and 3 in their completelyfolded storage position, as shown in Fig. 5. Moreover, the disposition of the hooks 46 and 4! permit the legs to assume a fully coplanar relationship when folded for storage or transport.

The length and relative positioning of the arms or links 30 and 3| and the relativearrangement and connection of the levers 32 constitute critical factors in the mounting of the herein shown kneeler attachment.

In the arrangement of a kneeler attachment to a chair of this kind. two conditions have to be met. First, when the kneeler attachment is in its use position behind the unfolded chair, the distance A (see Fig. 6), rearwardly of a vertical plane B tangent to the rear upper edge of the back, must be such as to provide an acceptable posture for a person kneelingon the platform. Such posture is more likely to be acceptable when the kneeling person may lean slightly forward. Secondly, the most comfortable seating posture is when the seat is slightly inclined rearwardly. Mounting the seat to achieve such a rearward inclination limits the space between the lower ends of the legs and the forward edge of the seat in its folded position, and within WhlCh space the platform and itssupporting linkage must be accommodated.

The kneeler attachment herein shown accomplishes this dual result.

From the foregoing it should be obvious that with the chair In in its unfolded seating position the kneeler attachment may be freely swun manually between its extended use position, as shown in Fig. 2, and a coplanar relationsh p With the leg frame l3, as shown in Fig. 1, as circumstances may require.

When it is desired to fold the chair It] for storage or transport purposes, and the kneeler attachment is down in use position, the folding of the chair automatically retracts the kneeler attachment into coplanar relationship with the folding chair as indicated in Fig. 5. The folding of the chair causes the front legs to engage the respective hooks 46 on the levers 42 and depress said levers. This pressure causes the levers to swing the platform up into its retracted position.

As the platform 28 swings between its respective positions the foot support 29 is simultaneously swung between a position transverse to the platform in its use position and a retracted position against the platform when in its coplanar position with respect to the leg frame l3.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention has been herein shown and described, it will be understood that details of the construction shown may be altered without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. The combination with a folding chair of a kneeler attachment, arms connecting said attachment to the rear legs of said chair to permit swinging of said attachment between a horizontal position rearwardly of said chair in its unfolded seating position and a retracted position with said chair in its folded storage position, a lever pivoted on one of said rear chair legs and disposed so as to be engaged by a front chair leg during the folding of said chair into its storage position, and a link operatively connecting said lever with one of said arms whereby said attachment is swung into retracted position by the folding of said chair.

2. The combination with a folding chair of a kneeler attachment comprising a platform, arms having their outer ends connected to said platform and their inner ends pivoted to the rear legs of said chair whereby said platform is swingable between a horizontal position rearwardly of said chair in its unfolded seating position and a retracted position with said chair in its folded storage position, a lever pivoted to one of said rear chair legs, a link connecting said lever to one of said arms, and means on said lever positioned to be engaged by a front chair leg during the folding of said chair into its storage position and swing said platform into said retracted position.

3. The combination with a folding chair of a kneeler attachment comprising a platform, arms having their outer ends connected to said platform and their inner ends pivoted to the rear legs of said chair whereby said platform is swingable between a horizontal position rearwardly of said chair in its unfolded seating position and a retracted position with said chair in its folded storage position, a lever pivoted to one of said rear chair legs, a link connecting the rear end of said lever to one of said arms, a hook formed on. the forward end of said lever positioned to be engaged by a front chair leg below a horizontal plane through the axis of said lever pivot during the folding of said chair into its storage position and swing said platform into said retracted position.

4. The combination with a folding chair of a kneeler attachment comprising a platform, a supp rt hinged on said platform to space the same above the fioor when in its use position, pairs of arms having their inner ends pivotally connected one above the other to the rear chair legs and having their outer ends pivoted respectively to said platform and said support to permit swinging of said platform between a horizontal position rearwardly of said chair when in its unfolded seating position with said support vertically disposed and a retracted position when said chair is in its folded storage position with said support folded against said platform, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends to one of said rear chair legs above the pivots of said arms, a link connecting the rear end of said lever to one of said arms, and means on the forward end of said lever positioned to be engaged by a front chair leg during the folding of said chair into its storage position and swing said platform into said retracted position.

5. The combination with a folding chair of a kneeler attachment comprising a platform, arms having their outer ends connected to said platform and their inner ends pivoted to the rear legs of said chair whereby said platform is swingable between a horizontal position rearwardly of said 25 1,938,345

chair in its unfolded seating position and a retracted position with said chair in its folded storage position, a lever pivoted to one of said rear chair legs, a link connecting said lever to one of said arms, means on said lever positioned to be engaged by a front chair leg during the folding of said chair into its storage position and swing said platform into said retracted position, a foot support hingedly mounted on said platform, and an arm connecting said foot support to said rear chair leg so as to effect a swinging of said foot support between a position perpendicularly disposed to said platform in its horizontal position and a position folded against said platform when in its retracted position with respect to said chair.

JOHN H. CLARIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,846,392 Hambrook Feb. 23, 1932 Monchiero Dec. 5, 1933 

